Something more aggressive ?

[Gen2]

Last week I had a chance to detail a black car with serious water etched marks and scratches. Intially I started off with #80 with W8006 on a rotary, after 3 passes light scratches were removed but the etched marks were still there. Than I moved up to #83 with W8006 but still with no sucess and in the end out came W7006 with #83. After 3 passes, the etched marks are still there but not so obvious already.

So I am wondering in such case should I just leave the not so obvious etched marks alone or should I move up to #84 with W7006 to clear out the etched marks ? I am worry whether #84 with W7006 combo on a rotary will cut alot into the clear coat ?

[Buellwinkle]

Sometimes the water spots are so etched in you have to call it quits. I had a show car 454 Chevelle convertible with a black stripes, not even clearcoated and the waterspots were so imbedded that only a repaint would remove them completely.

Going to #84 or #85 is certainly the next step but you have to ask yourself will you cause more damage by diminision or removing the clearcoat than it's worth. Look at it under a jewelers loop and see if you can tell how deep the spots go. If the #80/#83 removed the swirls and light scratches, the paint is not that hard. Actually I think the softer the paint, the more likely it is that the water spots etch into it.

[Gen2]

Hi Buellwinkle thanks for you advice. The reason I am asking is because coming this weekend, I will be doing another friend's car, a blue Honda. The car is filled with swirls and also bird's dropping stains. So base on my description in the first post, if I cannot remove the stains with #83 & W7006 combo, should I move up to #84/#85 ?

Basically I am not experience enough to tell am I cutting too much into the clear coat, I am still learning the cutting power of a rotary (the handling is ok). So I need suggestions from the experience detailers here. Thanks

[Buellwinkle]

Typically you use a wool pad with #84/85 and it will cause swirling, guaranteed. I've done it before on thick enamel paints, never tried it on a clearcoat. After that you have to remove the swirling caused by #84/85 with #83. If the paint has a real dull look after you are done, a body shop can fix that for a few thousand.